Which one of the following is not a feature of North Indian temple architecture?

North Indian temple architecture, known as the Nagara style, is characterized by several core features including the 'Sikhara' (a curvilinear tower capping the sanctum), the 'Garbha Griha' (the inner sanctum sanctorum), and the 'Pradakshina' (a circumambulatory path for devotees) [1]. In contrast, the 'Gopura' or 'Gopuram' is a monumental gateway tower that is a distinctive and dominating feature of South Indian or Dravidian temple architecture [4]. While Nagara temples focus on the height of the central shikhara, Dravidian temples often feature massive gopurams that dwarf the central shrine's tower (vimana) [2]. These gateways reached their pinnacle under the Chola and Vijayanagara empires in the south [4]. Therefore, the Gopura is not a traditional feature of North Indian temple architecture.

Sources

1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: The Guptas > Rock-cut and Structural Temples > p. 98
2. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara > 5.2. Gopurams and mandapas > p. 185
3. [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 12: Bahmani and Vijayanagar Kingdoms > 12.6 Art and Architecture > p. 186
4. [4] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 11: Later Cholas and Pandyas > Darasuram Temple > p. 163